Roof safety fears prompt upgrade plan for station

Network Rail has said urgent repair work is needed at a railway station to ensure the safety of staff and passengers.

It has submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to make improvements to the roof at Scarborough station.

A spokesperson said staff and passengers had been put at risk on more than one occasion.

There had been “several instances where the glazing panels have fallen onto the platforms," they added.

According to Network Rail, repairs needed include replacing the timber lantern roof, renewing the main station and train shed roof, and replacing the roof access system.

The company said the work was necessary after structural assessments concluded the site needed improvements to "maintain the structural capacity and integrity" of the roof.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, plans submitted to the council state that due to the age of the building, the drainage system also requires repairs.

The structure is “currently secured by a scaffolding system as a temporary measure to protect passengers and staff” and the works would introduce permanent repairs to make the station roof safe and to secure “a sustainable future for this operational railway building”.

The Grade II listed station opened in July of 1845 and was designed by G. T. Andrews, a clock tower was added in 1882.

The planning application, which would require listed building consent, is pending consideration and North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for a decision.

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